RINGSIDE
overwhelming emotion from the British fans. (Even Yours Truly was a little choked up – and I’m an American Nigel Benn fan!) But none of that would have mattered had the fight not delivered. The pulse-pounding Round 12 of Eubank-Benn is among the top five final three minutes to a major main event that I’ve witnessed live. It’s up there with Round 12 of Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III, Marco Antonio Barrera- Erik Morales I and III, and Morales- Manny Pacquiao I. That’s what fans will remember about this fight. Not the father-and- son storylines. Not the egg slap. Not the video game commercial. Not even Eubank winning by unanimous scores of 116-112. Hotly contested fights that end like Eubank-Benn make lifelong boxing fans out of casuals and remind longtime observers why they love the sport. That cold, breezy night in a packed, open-air soccer stadium is easily one of the most exhilarating events I’ve attended in more than 25 years of covering major boxing cards. The following Friday in New York City was not. There was tremendous hype and promotion going into the tripleheader topped by Garcia vs. Rolando Romero and supported by Devin Haney-Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez-Arnold Barboza Jr. However, the co-mains – obviously intended to set up an anticipated rematch between Garcia and Haney – were absolute duds. To his credit, Lopez showed up. The defending Ring/WBO 140-pound champ was not at his elite best, but he was focused and on form, which was more than enough to handcuff Barboza for 12 rounds. The previously unbeaten contender didn’t have an answer for Lopez’s athleticism and counterpunching style, and unfortunately for those watching the DAZN PPV, he was unwilling to force a fight. The entertainment value of the show went from “mid” to dreadful with Haney-Ramirez, which looked like an
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The Haney-Ramirez bout was the definition of “uneventful.”
interesting boxer-vs.-pressure fighter matchup on paper. However, Ramirez couldn’t pull the trigger while the constantly moving and holding Haney refused to. The seemingly mentally shot fighter outpointed the physically shot fighter to earn a unanimous decision. In the main event, Garcia, a 12-to-1 favorite according to oddsmakers, was upset by Romero. This could have been a compelling shocker had their styles played out as hoped. Both are explosive- but-flawed punchers. However, the only drama during the 12-round bout came in the second when Romero dropped Garcia with a hook. Nothing happened after that. Garcia was hesitant and uninterested until the final bell. Romero won rounds by merely boxing with purpose, walking the social media star down with a jab to the midsection. Rolly didn’t step up the pressure or go for the knockout, but he won an unlikely unanimous decision. The boxing world was not kind on social media. Ring Magazine contributor and ratings panelist Adam Abramowitz: “Lot of fighters accepted losing tonight. Not one went out on his shield, or even tried to. So little urgency in these fights.” Ring Magazine contributor and proofreader David Greisman: “Teofimo Lopez landed just 127 punches tonight in 12 rounds (73 of them power shots).
“As bad as that may sound, the other two winning fighters – Devin Haney and Rolly Romero – landed 127 punches COMBINED (63 of them power shots).” Greisman continued: “Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez is legit one of the worst fights I’ve ever seen. And there have been some terrible ones.” Hall of Famer and Ring Magazine columnist Al Bernstein: “I am loath to criticize boxers in this way, but tonight there was not a lot of urgency from any of the six fighters involved. Just kind of disappointing. And it is in stark contrast to the Eubank-Benn match – not that we expect every bout to be that exciting and well-contested.” We don’t, but we do expect fighters – especially those making seven figures – to let their damn hands go. Canelo Alvarez, who was making eight figures in his Riyadh Season debut on May 3, did not let his damn hands go. Neither did his opponent, William Scull, who saved most of his energy for his legs. By the fourth round, I knew we were in for a monotonous 12 rounds. This is what I posted on X before Round 5: “Ugh. I don’t care for stick-and-
12 RINGMAGAZINE.COM
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